Readers across Marin County are sounding off on three timely topics. Folks are talking about keeping hands-on, career-connected education alive at Terra Linda and Novato High Schools.
Others are raising concerns about the growing demand for paramedic services in the Ross Valley. Some are weighing the possible impact of a national surgeon general nominee on transgender youth.
Discover hand-picked hotels and vacation homes tailored for every traveler. Skip booking fees and secure your dream stay today with real-time availability!
Browse Accommodations Now
From San Rafael to Larkspur, from Corte Madera to Novato, these letters show a community that really cares about schools, public safety, and health policy.
Reviving hands-on education in Marin County
In Marin, one letter laments the gradual removal of shop and home economics courses from high schools. The writer links this shift to rising student anxiety and mental-health concerns.
They celebrate a community effort to restore practical classes like car repair and carpentry at Terra Linda High in San Rafael and at Novato High. The argument is pretty clear: these programs give local students critical hands-on pathways.
The writer describes an uplifting gathering of educators and supporters. Voices like Charlie Goodman, former Marin County Superintendent Mary Jane Burke, and current Superintendent John Carroll spoke up.
They urged people to make tax-deductible donations to the Marin County Office of Education. The goal is to support Career Technical Education (CTE) programs across the county, including Marin schools in Greenbrae and Mill Valley that want to broaden students’ exposure to trades and technology.
A community-led push at Terra Linda and Novato High Schools
From Terra Linda High in San Rafael to Novato High, families and teachers see real benefits when students learn automotive tuning, carpentry, and other trades. The Marin community wants to keep CTE going, pairing classroom instruction with real-world skills.
That’s especially important for kids who feel anxious in today’s college-prep-heavy environment. Donors across the North Bay, including families in Fairfax and Tiburon, are being asked to give through the Marin County Office of Education to keep CTE programs strong in schools around Tamalpais Valley and beyond.
Marin County residents know that robust CTE infrastructure can anchor career ladders for students in Sausalito, Larkspur, and Ross. This supports a regional economy that leans on the Bay’s fitness and tech industries.
There’s hope that Terra Linda, Novato, and nearby schools will keep modeling cross-district collaboration to sustain hands-on learning for years to come.
Paramedics, fire service in Ross Valley: calls for regional solutions
A different letter argues that Ross residents are underestimating the need for a new firehouse and a dedicated paramedic station. Demand for emergency medical services is rising across the Ross Valley.
Local readers in San Anselmo and Fairfax point out that the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority’s latest review says the region will soon need a third ambulance. Right now, there are just two, with paramedics assigned to engines in Larkspur, San Rafael, and San Anselmo.
The correspondent highlights potential spots for the third ambulance to improve response times. Larkspur, Kentfield, and San Anselmo are mentioned as strategic sites.
A broader solution gets tossed around: combine Central Marin and Ross Valley fire agencies to fund paramedic staffing regionally. That would be a shift from the county contract for the San Anselmo ambulance.
- Larkspur
- Kentfield
- San Anselmo
Supporters think pooling resources could unlock more consistent coverage for towns from Greenbrae to Corte Madera. It could help keep Marin County’s emergency services responsive, especially during wildfires or big public events that pull extra crews away from their usual shifts.
Public health discourse and accountability: Dr. Nicole Saphier
A third letter shifts the focus to a national debate. It urges Marin readers to look past an Associated Press profile of Dr. Nicole Saphier, Trump’s surgeon general nominee, and dig deeper than her public stances on vaccines, food additives, or exercise.
The author claims Saphier has pushed messages about transgender youth that many medical professionals reject. She’s reportedly equated transgender identity with mental illness and called puberty blockers dangerous or just a passing trend.
Major U.S. medical associations don’t support those views. The writer argues Saphier’s focus on rare de-transition stories skews the broader evidence.
California has about 84,600 transgender and gender-diverse youths. The letter warns that putting an anti-transgender surgeon general in office could put vulnerable young people at risk in Marin and all over the state.
Readers are encouraged to contact the Senate HELP Committee to oppose the nomination. The letter reflects a real concern for protecting health guidance for youth in Marin, San Rafael, and nearby communities.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for May 12, 2026
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now
Cities and Towns in Marin County
Things to Do in Marin County
Places to Stay in Marin County
